Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Today, Windows gave a preview to their next operating system, Windows 10. Apparently, Terry Myerson feels that the update is so substantial that it deserves to be called Windows 10. This update comes with several improvements, including but not limited to: Better snap, multiple desktops, combining Windows 7 and Windows 8 (Start Menu), and better experiences for computers without touch screens. You can get Windows 10 yourself soon at preview.windows.com. (If Windows 10 screws up your computer, don't blame me! It's still a preview.)

According to Net Applications, Windows 7 was on 51% of all desktop PCs and Windows 8 AND Windows 8.1 combined accounted for 13%.

"We want all these Windows 7 users to have the sentiment that yesterday they were driving a first-generation Prius," he said, "and now with Windows 10 it's like we got them a Tesla."

Monday, September 29, 2014

With the beta of iOS 8.1 available to developers, Hamza Sood (@hamzasood on Twitter) found a line of code that confirms that the next generation iPad will have Touch ID. Here's the code:

"<key>ABOUT_PAYMENT_TEXT_IPAD</key>

<string>Pay with iPad using Touch ID. With Apple Pay, you no longer need to type card numbers and shipping information."

While it looks like iPad will support Touch ID and Apple Pay, that doesn't mean it will have Apple Pay. Apple doesn't expect customers to whip out an iPad at a checkout stand, which is probably why Apple hasn't put Passbook on iPads. The next generation iPad is expected to be announced sometime in October.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

More than a week after iOS 8 was released, Apple finally has a decent list of Health compatible apps. The list consists of:

FitStar Personal Trainer

UP by Jawbone

MyFitnessPal Calorie Counter

Human

Noom Coach

May My Run+

Yummly Recipes

WebMD

Fitnet

MotionX

CARROT Fit

Zova

7 Minute Workout

Omvana

Patient IO

Centered

The release of iOS 8 didn't allow for the viewing nor download of HealthKit apps because of a bug. A week after, a fix was released but had another bug that caused problems with Touch ID and cellular data.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Tech/health giant, Azumio, plans to use HealthKit in iOS 8. I asked them specifically about Instant Heart Rate, but their statement will hopefully apply to all Azumio apps. It should be noted that this message was written a day before HealthKit was fixed.

"Currently, no health applications integrate with the Health Kit. However, once developers are allowed to integrate with the Health Kit at the end of the month, Instant Heart Rate will be one of the first applications to sync heart rate into the Health Kit. Stay tuned."

- Nikolai Janko

As of today, Instant Heart Rate doesn't have HealthKit functionality, but hopefully it'll be up soon. At least it's not as vague as Fitbit's answer. Instant Heart Rate is available from the App Store for $1.99 [Direct Link] or for free as a demo [Direct Link].

Friday, September 26, 2014

With HealthKit finally avaliable to developers, apps are starting to gain functionality. However, a big question is whether Fitbit will be using this functionality. A representative had this to say:

"As the iOS 8 is very recent we still don't have news if we're going to have some features linked to the Healthkit.If in the future we have those features, the information would be post in fitbit.com."

- Magin B.

Now, maybe this is because the representative isn't a developer, but Fitbit had three months to prepare their app for HealthKit when it was announced at WWDC. They should be on top of this. Especially with all of the free publicity Apple gives them on their Apple Online Store. HealthKit was practically made for Fitbit (and the Apple Watch I suppose). Hopefully, they'll add functionality soon.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

After the awful iOS 8.0.1 update, Apple has finally released the update to fix HealthKit apps (If only I could find some! Thanks a lot Fitbit!). In addition to HealthKit support, it fixes cellular network functionality and fixes any Touch ID problems.

According to Apple, less than 40,000 iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Pluses were affected by iOS 8.0.1.

"iOS 8.0.2 is now available for users, it fixes an issue that affected iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who downloaded iOS 8.0.1, and includes improvements and bug fixes originally in iOS 8.0.1. We apologize for inconveniencing the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who were impacted by the bug in iOS 8.0.1."

- Apple

If you're in Australia, you might still have some problems, but it doesn't hurt to try!

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

After a week of waiting, HealthKit finally works! But at what cost? Many customers (specifically with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus) are complaining that the update caused Touch ID to not work and cellular data to fail as well. An hour after its release, the update was pulled. Apple says that it's investigating these problems.

So, here's what we have so far. At WWDC, Apple makes a big deal about Health and even makes an advertisement for it. Three months later, a last-minute bug cans the entire app for its debut in iOS 8. Apple said it would have a fix by the end of September. And here we are now! I can guarantee that Steve Jobs would've never let this happen.

For those who did download the update, iMore has made a set of instructions for how to fix your phone:

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

With several reports of iPhone 6 Pluses bending in skinny jeans and tight pockets, Lewis Hilsenteger, a brave soul from Unbox Therapy, took his shiny, new iPhone 6 Plus to the ultimate test. He manages to bend his phablet about a good 5° and it somehow still works. The video is below, and very amazing. Let's see AppleCare protect this!

Monday, September 22, 2014

With the release of iOS 8, I had only two things on my mind: HealthKit and HomeKit. If you've read the news, you know how HealthKit is probably going for me, so that leaves me with HomeKit. Before the announcement of HomeKit, I bought about $150 in WeMo switches with Amazon credits I got for Christmas.

When HomeKit was announced, I was so happy that I bought those WeMo switches. When I go to bed, I could simply say, "Hey, Siri! I'm going to sleep!" and all of my lights would turn off, all without touching my phone. A dream come true...

Apple's Partners for HomeKit from WWDC 2014

...or so I thought.

Watching the WWDC keynote for another two minutes, I found the sponsors list. It seemed like every major smart home brand was up there except for WeMo and Nest. Even iHome was up there, and they just make speaker systems!

When iOS 8 was released, I took matters into my own hands and I emailed Belkin about the issue. Here's what they wrote:

"I don't have anything to share on that front at this time. We're partners with Apple on a number of other fronts so we have had discussions, but nothing concrete at this time."

- Leah Polk

So for all the WeMo owners dying for HomeKit integration with WeMo, here's what I have to say. We can only hope that this feature comes soon enough. It seems that it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when. If Belkin wants to stay on top of the game, they'd better integrate it soon.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Apple is aware that selfies are a growing trend. Heck, it's even a word in the Oxford Dictionary. But when I press and hold the photo button in Messages, and it sends an embarrassing photo of me to my recipient, that's a big no-no in my rule book. Luckily, this hasn't happened to me, but it has happened to thousands of other people. People aren't used to this function automatically using the front camera by default. With other functions, such as sending an audio recording or video recording in Messages, it gives you a heads up and lets you review what you're about to send. For those upgrading to iOS 8 and are texting friends or important people (like your boss), be sure to think twice about holding down that photo button, because once you let go of it, it's like letting go of a trigger on a gun. No going back.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

The app DataMan always made it easy to manage your cellular data usage. Now it's even easier! With the latest update, you can now view your data usage from Notification Center. Be sure to buy the latest version of DataMan [Direct Link] today!

Friday, September 19, 2014

Verizon has added the capability of voice over LTE (VoLTE) for its customers. Finally, Verizon can use data while on a call. This wasn't possible before despite AT&T being able to do it for the past 7 years. In addition, call quality is drastically improved.

"Advanced Calling 1.0, a first-generation service suite enabled by Voice over LTE, or VoLTE, technology, is now available on America's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network with XLTE. With Advanced Calling 1.0, there is a clear difference. You will be able to enjoy natural-sounding High-Definition (HD) Voice and a Video Calling experience that's as simple as making a traditional voice call."

These new features are limited to the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6 Plus, the LG G2, and the Samsung Galaxy S5.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

With iOS 8, developers now have the power to make new keyboards for users. These keyboard apps have wasted no time getting popular and have already taken the top of the charts for the App Store. These apps have surpassed everything, even Minecraft (Pocket Edition)! That's pretty impressive for apps with a very limited compatibility.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

With iOS 8, you're apps just got a lot more power. If you want to get it, be sure to check out my instructions for doing so. Be sure to back up to a computer or using iCloud. (Trust me, it might save your phone one day. It sure has saved mine.) Also, be sure to have enough storage. It took up about 4.7 GB for my iPhone 5. It takes up about 5.2 GB for an iPhone 5s. Don't worry! A lot of the storage the update takes up will be deleted after it's finished. Good luck!

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

With Samsung flinging an endless stream of negative advertisements at iPhone users, Apple has made a page for switching to an iPhone from an Android. The guide tells you how to transfer mail, contacts, calendars, photos, videos, music, books, documents, and how to install iOS versions of apps. Last week at the iPhone event, Tim Cook stated that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus would be the "mother of all upgrades." The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus set a new record with more than 4 million iPhone pre-orders.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Many users asked Apple to create a function to remove U2's 'Songs of Innocence' album from their libraries. At Apple's event last Tuesday, Apple announced that it would be free to all iTunes users until October 13th. These albums were essentially pushed to libraries due to iTunes in the Cloud and other factors. Some users don't want this album. If you would like to remove the album from your library, Apple has you covered.

"Some customers asked for the ability to delete 'Songs of Innocence' from their library, so we set up http://www.itunes.com/soi-remove to let them easily do so. Any customer that needs additional help should contact AppleCare."

- Tom Neumayr

Simply follow this link, enter your Apple ID credentials, and the album will be removed. Note, once the album is removed, it can't be downloaded again for free after the promotion period, so you must re-download it before the promotion ends to get it for free again.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

On Tuesday, Apple announced the iPhone 6 and the Apple Watch. Here's a quick recap of what happened.

iPhone 6:

The iPhone 6 (Left) andthe iPhone 6 Plus (Right)

The iPhone 6 sees some dramatic improvements. The most notable being a larger screen, the iPhone 6 has 4.7" screen, but the iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5" screen. In addition, they are also thinner. The iPhone 6 is 6.9 mm and the iPhone 6 Plus is 7.1 mm. The screen has a new Retina HD Display with a resolution of 1334 x 750 for the iPhone 6 (1920 x 1080 for the iPhone 6 Plus). It has some new chips, such as the A8 chip and M8 coprocessor. With Apple Pay, your credit card information is stored on a completely separate chip in the iPhone, so it's super secure. The iPhone 6 Plus has some special exclusive features. It's camera can physically move to stabilize pictures. Certain apps can use the extra space for iPad-like features, such as the iPad's side-drawer view. The 32 GB model is gone, so the 64 GB model costs $100 less. In addition, there's a 128 GB model. The iPhone 6 starts at $199 and the iPhone 6 Plus starts at $299.

Apple Watch:

Apple will sell three new wearable devices in 2015. The Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Sport, and the Apple Watch Edition. The Apple Watch comes with stainless steal bands. The Apple Watch Sport comes with colorful, silicone-like bands. The Apple Watch Edition comes with fancybands and the device is plated with 18-karat gold. These wearables track everything, including your heart rate. It comes with an app that tells you how long you've stood for, exercised for, and moved for. If you're idle too long, it can remind you. Navigating the apps use the touch screen and a new "crown" that turns. The watches also support wireless charging. Messaging has a new meaning with Apple Watch. You can send drawings, voice messages, and dictated messages. The clock has many, unique faces for you to personalize it. Apple Watch is built on the foundation of being personal. All-in-all, the Apple Watch isn't just iOS shrunk down, it's a new take on iOS with some great features that gives your device it's own personality.

The Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Sport, and the Apple Watch Edition(Left to right)

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Apple has yet to reveal some of the finer details of their new payment service, Apple Pay. According to The Financial Times, Apple will make 0.15% of each purchase.

"They are also paying hard cash for the privilege of being involved: 15 cents of a $100 purchase will go to the iPhone maker, according to two people familiar with the terms of the agreement, which are not public. That is an unprecedented deal, giving Apple a share of the payments' economics that rivals such as Google do not get for their services."

Friday, September 12, 2014

Even though Apple had some technical difficulties with updating their Apple Online Store, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus set a new record for pre-orders. Although there are no numbers, an Apple representive said it broke a record. It took almost three hours until the iPhone was avaliable to pre-order (2:45 AM). Now, it's taking 7-10 days to ship.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Apple announced Apple Pay yesterday, but they never really explained how it would work on the Apple Watch. Well, now we know! Basically, Apple Watch knows when it's being worn. When you put it on, it requires a passcode. While it's being worn, you can use it to buy purchases hands-free. When it's taken off, it must have a passcode entered for the purchase to be completed.

P.S. I will do a review of what happened at the Apple Special Event soon! I'm sorry for the delay, but it's been a bit of a hectic week!

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Today, Apple will announce the iPhone 6 in two sizes and a new wearable. If you want to avoid any spoilers, stay off the internet. Although I won't be putting a post up today recounting the events (Sorry, my schedule is booked!), there may be some tweets in the Twitter widget that may have spoilers. Don't go on Apple, Twitter, or anything remotely social or technological. If you do want to see what happened, go to Apple's website and there should be a video stream there. Also, there should be a channel on Apple TV called "Apple Events" that should also have the stream. The event should start at 10 AM (PDT).

Sunday, September 7, 2014

As you may have noticed, there have been multiple changes to Tech Talk 4 Geeks. After about two years, I think it's time for a change. Don't worry! Everything continues to function the same, it's just some cosmetic changes. In addition, these changes should improve your overall experience on the blog. Here are the main changes:

The Heading

Before

After

The first change you'll notice is the heading. Before it the link bar had a strange and unsymmetrical feel to it. Now, all the links are on one organized line.

Color Scheme

I took advantage of this opportunity and did a little branding. A lot of the page is coated orange (to compliment Tech Talk 4 Geeks' logo). I know the logo isn't shown a lot and I feel this helps represent Tech Talk 4 Geeks.

Width Adjustments

Before

After

Notice that the iWatch picture in the before picture is partially overlapped by the Twitter widget. That has been fixed in this change. You can now view the picture in all of its glory.

Labels

Before

After

In the before picture, the labels (a.k.a. tags) went way past the posts. This made it awkward getting to the end of the page. This has also been fixed. With this new layout, the tags (along with the other widgets) are condensed.

What do you think?

I hope you like these changes as much as I do! Be sure to leave your feedback in the poll at the the top of the page or below (Voting ends September 30th). If you have a suggestion (color changes, etc.), please tell me in the comments below! Thanks!

Do you like the new redesign?

Saturday, September 6, 2014

The iWatch, Apple's unannounced wearable, is expected to have NFC (Near-Field Communication). This opens up many possibilities such as paying with your wrist, exchanging contact information quickly with other devices, and possibly home automation. Along with the iWatch, the iPhone 6 is also expected to have NFC. The iWatch and iPhone 6 are expected to be released this Tuesday (September 9th), although the iWatch won't be available until late 2014 or early 2015.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

The lengths that people go to be first in line for the new iPhone (and a little publicity) boggles my mind each year. But, people do it anyways. The iPhone 6 hasn't even been announced yet, and people are lining up anyways. Brian Ceballo and Joseph Cruz (representing BuyBackWorld) are going for the world record of camping out 19 days before the launch of the new iPhone (started August 31st), a one-up from the previous record of 18 days. However, they have given up their spot to Jason and Moon Ray (representing a health app). Brian and Joseph made $1,250 for giving up their spots in line. Based on past releases, the iPhone 6 should be available Friday, September 19th.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Ricardo Del Toro (featured in yesterday's post) made a really cool mockup website for his concept of what paying with the iPhone 6 will be like. He used Dribbble to do it. It's really cool and looks very real. You can view his creation by following this link.